In the end of march I decided to go on the second trip of the month. The weather had been warmer for quite some time so I didn’t expect any snow. My plan was to try trailrunners in snowfree conditions. This time though I used both gaiters two pairs of these thin woolsocks. I also wanted to test myself and see how far I could walk in a day with the lightweight gear that I have now and still enjoy myself.

I set out to Vildmarksleden in Klavreström, about 40km north of Växjö. I have hiked this trail a few years earlier and didn’t like it. But I thought the 37km was a decent length for an overnight-trip, it was fairly close to home and I wanted to see if my impressions of the trail would change.

Sadly, it wouldn’t. Despite the name Vildmarksleden, witch means Wildernesstrail, it feels like far from wilderness. In consists mainly of sprouse-plantations, clear-cuts of sprouse-plantations and marshes. Long stretches of the trail is forest-roads. It has some beautiful passages, for example a stretch near Älghultssjön. But unfortunately the beautiful passages are in minority.

Anyways, I parked my car in Klavreström and headed out around 11.00 with the following packlist: https://lighterpack.com/e/3vgxg4

I walked to around 14.00 before I made lunch. I had my homemade Lapsgojs, mashed potatoes with meat.

I while after lunch I actually got lost. A lot of trees had fallen during storms, and on a poorly marked part of the trail I got lost. I couldn’t see where the trail was going, and by the calculations of where on the map I was I thought I’d just bushwhack a bit and then get to the trail. Unfortunately I had overrated the speed I was walking at and was at another sections of the trail than the one I thought. The terrain was similar though with clear-cuts, heights and marshes. I bushwhacked for about an hour and went right through a marsh before I reached the trail again.

I kept walking to 18.00 before I set up camp. I remembered from the last time on the trail that there would be a nice clearing where I could set up the tent. I was very tired and my body was aching when I reached the clearing. At that time I just thought I was tired from walking all day. Something that would prove to be wrong.

The moment my water for the dinnerbag boiled the skies opened in an icy rain that turned into hail. I ate inside the tent and quickly went to bed. I curled up in the sleepingbag and watched an episode of Kampen om tungvattnet (the saboteurs) and then went to sleep.

I woke up the next day feeling miserable. I skipped breakfast and quickly packed up. The tent was covered in ice.

I walked the ~12km left of the trail and got back to the car. When I got back home I discovered that I had a fever, and I was sick for about a week. I guess it has something to do with age after 30 :-). It’s not like a few years ago when you were sick for a day or two and then got back in the game.

After this hike I realised that I still don’t like Vildmarksleden. It’s ok in length but it really doesn’t offer that much when it comes to beautiful nature.

Next trip will hopefully be in Tiveden or Tresticklan nationalpark. I’ve been in both before, and the scenery is gorgeous if you like lowland-hikes.  I had planned a trip with a friend for the coming weekend, but unfortunately other things got in the way so I have to postpone it. A tripreport will come as soon as I get a chance to get out again.